Man uses deceased brother's name to avoid child support warrant

On behalf of Koiles Pratt Family Law Group posted in Family Law on Sunday, September 7, 2014.

Eighteen years ago, a man from Massachusetts moved to Florida. The now-51-year-old knew he had a warrant for child support out of Massachusetts, so he started using his brother's name. His brother had passed away in 1963 while still a baby.

About three years after his southerly move, the man said he started to abuse drugs, with crack cocaine being the drug to which he was most partial. It took another two years before he was arrested on a traffic stop for possessing cocaine. In July 1996, he was put on probation in Florida, but didn't feel as though he could stay clean in Florida. He fled the state, thereby violating the terms of his probation, and he returned to Massachusetts.

After being back in Massachusetts for a month -- and using his real name again -- he was arrested on the child support warrant. He spent a month behind bars. In 2004, he returned to Florida again and was eventually arrested on the Florida probation warrant.

Non-payment of child support doesn't go away. It can't be discharged in bankruptcies. The court may modify the payments, but in most cases, the amount in arrears will not be reduced.

Those who depend on child support are often unsure if or when they will ever receive the payments as they are supposed to. While this man's arrest may seem arbitrary, there are means available to help collect child support that is owed.

An attorney experienced in Massachusetts family law can provide more information for parents who need to determine the best way for collecting child support payments that are in arrears.

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